Sputum cup



Oct. l5, 1940.

K. c. HAMILTON 2,28,002

SIUTUM. CUP

Filed Nov. 5, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 15, 1940.

K. c. HAMILTON v 2,218,002

sPuTUM cuP Filed NOV. 3, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 15, 1940 sPUTUM CUP Kenneth C. Hamilton, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Milwaukee Lace Paper Company, Milwauke Wisi', a corporation of Wisconsin Application November s, 193s, serial No. v238,506

4 Claims.

This invention relates to receptacles, and has to do with sputum cups and analogous devices.

The invention is directed to a sputum cup comprising a cup body `and a baffle mounted therein,

the body and the bafe having cooperating elements effective for retaining the baille in position while also providing reinforcing means for the device as a whole, such that it may be constructed of paper and like materials and will have Ia com- :ci paratively long eective life. More specically, the cup body is provided with .a reinforcing bead at,its top, which resists radial 'spreading of the body and assures proper positioning and support n of the bailie while providing an [abutment confin- 25" ing the ballie against upward movement relative to the body. I provide the baffle with an element cooperating with the `body for supporting the baille therein, while provi-ding an effective reinforcement for the body, forming a seal therewith go about the baille and excluding objectionable lodgment of spittle or othersubstancesabovethe bale, Y

and facilitating insertion of the baille and accurate positioning thereof within the body. Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the detail description.

In the drawings- Figure l is a plan view of a sputum cup embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is Ia sectional View taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a secitonal view similar to Figure 2 but showing a modified form of sputum cup embodying my invention; and

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showin-g a second modied form of sputum cup ernbodying my invention.

In Figures 1 and 2 cup body I0 is, in general, of known construction and is formed of paper, being provided with lengthwise extending plaits II. Body IU flares upward and is provided, at its top, with a reinforcing bead I2 of circular cross section, which bead projects inward of body I radially -thereof for approximately one half of the diameter of the bead. That provides a rounded inwardly projecting shoulder at the top of body I0. An inverted frusto-conical baile I3, also formed of paper, and provided with a central opening I4 at its `lower base, is disposed within body I0 with the outer edge portion of its upper base engaging the bead I2 and tting tightly within body I0, in a rounded channel I5 provided by the juncture of the inwardly projecting bead with the top of the body. Bead I2 thus provides an abutment preventing upward movement of bale I3 relative to body I0, downward movement of the baille being prevented-by its engagement in the channel I5 and the downward taper of the surrounding wall ofthe body. Bead I2 and the upper base portion-of baille I3 thus cooperate with each other :and with the 5' body I0 to position accurately the baffle and retain it within the cup body, while also providing an effective seal about the upper base ofthe baffle, which prevents leakage 'of the contents' o-f the cup in theevent the latter is tipped over. 41() In the cup shown in Figure 3, baffle I3a having at its lower base opening Magi-s providedwitha circumferentialv` flange I6 projecting upward from its upper base and engaging lthe inner portion of bead I2,`this flange flaring correspondingly to the surrounding wall of body I0 ,and tting tightly against this wall. Flange I6 and bead I2 effectively prevent upward movement of baIe I3a relative to body I0, and relative downward movement of the baie is prevented by the downward taper of the surrounding wall of the cup body. In addition, ange I6 provides material reinforcement for the upper portion of the cup body, resisting inward distortion thereof and,

in -conjunction with bead I2, provides highly efficienrt sealing means about the upper ibase of the baille. p

In Figure 4 body IllEL ares upward to within a short distance of bead I-2, being provided with a. relatively narrow straight or cylindrical portion I1 extending downward from the bead. BafIie I3b, provided with opening IlD through its lower base, is provided, at its upper base, with a depending circumferential flange I62L which engages the bead I2 and seats, =at itslower edge, against 35 the upwardly flaring portion of body II)a at the plane of juncture I8 thereof with the straight or cylindrical portion II. 'Ilrat provides means for accurately positioning the bafe within the body .and retaining it in position, while providing 40 an effective seal ,about the upper base of the bale, flange I6a providing an effective reinforcement for the body, in the same manner as flange I6 of baiile I3a of Figure 3.

In each of the forms shown in Figures 1 to 4, 45 inclusive, the baile is formedof paperorothersuitable material which possessesconsiderablerigidity and appreciable resilience. Due to its inverted frust-o-conical form, the bale is self centering as it is inserted into the cup and, during insertion, may be compressed or distorted to a certain extent suiciently to pass through the bead I2, the base portion of the baffle, as it reaches the lower portion of the bead, engaging beneath the latter with .a snap action which is effective for accurately positioning the baille within the cup body, in which position it is retained in the manner previously described.

As has been indicated, changes in construction and arnangement of details of the 4device of my invention may be resorted to without departing from the eld and scope thereof, and I intend to include 'all such variations, as fall within the scope of the appended claims, in this application in which the preferred forms only of my invention have been disclosed.

Iclaim:

l. In a sputum cup, an upwardly flaring `body provided at its top with an exterior outwardly rolled circumferential reinforcing bead of substantially circular cross section projecting radially inward of said body and resisting radial spreading thereof, the wall of said body below said bead being iiat, and an inverted frusto-conical baffle open at its lower base and provided at its upper base with a circumferential flange tting tightly within said body with its upper end engaging beneath said bead and cooperating therewith and with the contiguous downwardlytapering portion of said body for retaining said baffle in position within said body.

2. In a sputum cup, an upwardly flaring body provided at its top with an exterior outwardly rolled circumferential reinforcing bead of substantially circular cross section projecting radially inward of said body and resisting radial spreading thereof, the wall of said body below said bead being flat, and an inverted frusto-conical baiiie open at its lower base and provided at its upper i. base with an upwardly projecting circumferential fiange aring upward correspondingly to said body fitting tightly within the latter with its upper edge engaging beneath said bead and co- .operating therewith and with the contiguous downwardly tapering portion of said body for retaining said bale in position within said body.

3. In a sputum cup, a body provided at its top with an exterior outwardly rolled circumferential bead of substantially circular cross section projecting radially inward of said body and resisting radial spreading thereof, said body fiaring upward to within a short distance of said bead and the remainder of said body being straight to said bead, and an inverted frustoconical baiiie open at its lower base and provided at its upper base with a straight depending circumferential flange fitting tightly within the straight portion of said body and conned between said bead and the flaring portion of said body for retaining said baffle in position within said body.

4. In a sputum cup, a body provided at its top with an exterior outwardly rolled circumferential bead projecting inward radiallyof said body and resisting radial spreading thereof, and an inverted frusto-conical baille open at its lower base and provided at its upper base with a circumferential iiange fitting tightly within said body, said body tapering downward from said ange and the latter being confined between and cooperating with said bead and the downwardly tapering portion of said body contiguous to said flange for retaining said balile in position within said body.

KENNETH C. HAMILTON. 

